1865

1865: Music by Edvard Grieg

7 January

Return to Copenhagen.

2 February

Sits for the painter Laura Wittusen, who has an atelier at Christiansborg. As the sittings progress in February and March, she finds it difficult to paint a life-like "contour". The painting was never completed.

18 February

At a dinner party, HCA raises objections to the differentiation made by Rasmus Nielsen, professor of philosophy, between the poet ("who sees") and the philosopher ("who is able to explain that which has been given to the other"). HCA feels that:

"Indeed it is given to the poet, but he himself is able, thereafter, to see and understand that which has been given" (the diary).

The differences are not, however, insurmountable. In fact HCA visits Rasmus Nielsen on 22nd and reads his new comedy play out loud for him ( Da Spanierne var her (When the Spaniards Were Here )). Nielsen is very enthusiastic about the play.

28 February

To the municipal authorities, HCA specifies that his income from the previous year amounted to 1,820 rdl.